Turmeric

Turmeric

Botanical Name :- Curcuma longa and Curcuma aromatica

Family :- Zingiberaceae

Origin :- South East Asia

Plant part :- Rhizome

• Underground rhizome is used as condiment dye staff, drug and cosmetic.

Botany :-

1. Curcuma has a 42 species.
2. Curcuma longa is cultivated in large areas in Andhra Pradesh.
3. Curcuma aromatica used for the used for kum-kum.

Propagation :-

Through rhizomes, mother rhizomes, cut mother sand primary fingers.

Climate :-

• Tropical herb requires warm and moist climate.
• Rainfall 100 - 200 cm "or" 1000 - 2000 mm.
• Temperature range preferable is 20 - 30 °C.

Soil :-

Turmeric can be grown all drain well friable soil, rich sandy or clay loam soils.

Crop stand neither water logging nor alkalinity.

Preparation of field :-

• 4 - 6 deep ploughing to get fine tilth up to 20 - 25 cm depth.
• Field is laid out into beds or ridges and furrows.
• Ridges and furrows are prepared at 45 - 60 cm spacing.

Time of showing :-

Short duration varieties :-

Second fortnight of May.

Medium duration varieties :-

First fortnight of June.

Long duration varieties :-

Second fortnight of June to second fortnight of July.

Seed Rate :-

Mother rhizomes 2000 - 2500 kg/ha primary fingers 1500 - 2000 kg/ha.

Spacing :-

• Red loamy soils :- 30 x 15 cm
• Black heavy soils :- 46 x 23 cm

Method of sowing :-

• Ridge and furrow system.
• Bed system.
• Rhizomes are dibbled at 5 - 10 cm pits.

Irrigation :-

A good soaking irrigation is given immediately after sowing there after irrigate at weekly interval.

Manures and Fertilizer :-

• 20 - 25 of FYM t/ha during land preparation.
• 60 : 60 : 60 kg NPK/ha before planting of rhizomes.
• 60 : 60 : 65 kg NPK/ha 60 days after sowing.

Weeding :-

• 3 - 4 weeding are required at 60, 90, 120, 150 days after planting.
• Turmeric plants are required earthing up and mulch is replaced.

Inter-crops :-

• Maize or chili are grown as inter crop.
• Turmeric can also be raised as an inter crop in coconut and areca nut plantations.

Harvesting :-

Main season of harvesting in February - April.

Yield :-

Indian average yield is 20000 - 22000 kg/ha.

Varieties :-

Kanthi, Varna, Sobha, Sona, Rajani, Kasthuri.